CEAD launches application-specific, cartesian-style Flexcube printing cell

CEAD B.V. (Delft, Netherlands) unveils the Flexcube series, the latest addition to the company’s large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) solutions built on pellet extrusion technology. The cartesian-style 3D printing platform expands the company’s portfolio, comprising accessible, high-performance and high-throughput solutions for large-format 3D printing of industrial-sized composite parts.

The all-in-one platform — integrated milling options and a 3+1-axis system for 45° printing — facilitates the manufacture of a wide range of applications and enables full part completion, says CEAD, handling 3D printing and postprocessing of complex designs in one automated workflow.

“With the Flexcube, we’re redefining possibilities for industry innovators to manufacture within an accessible LFAM system,” says CEAD’s CEO Lucas Janssen. Designed to simplify and enhance production, the Flexcube is meant to minimize entry barriers, such as space requirements and robot knowledge, making the technology accessible for a wide range of users.

The Flexcube is user-friendly. Its compact dimensions make it suited for spaces like universities and design studios, requiring just 2.5 meters in ceiling height. Moreover, the machine ships in a single container, completely assembled, enabling customers to start production without extensive on-site assembly time. “By removing unnecessary delays, we help customers implement their projects as quickly as possible,” Janssen says.

The Flexcube is designed as a modular series, tailored to specific industries. The Flexcube Architecture & Design model, for example, is ideal for serial production of complex designs like furniture and interior elements, such as decorative panels. CEAD says that it optimizes production by enabling high printing speeds, the ability of printing multiple parts on a single print bed and reducing space requirements, all while minimizing material use and promoting circularity. Other Flexcube configurations tailored for specific markets will also be available.

Notably, this modular design is meant to “maximize print volume with optimal space efficiency, as reflected in its build volume-to-cell ratio,” says Maarten Logtenberg, CTO at CEAD. “For users requiring an even larger print area, its design allows for an additional expansion up to 12 meters.” He adds that the machine is designed for continuous operation purposes and its 45° rotating extruder extends creative potential by supporting complex geometries beyond traditional three-axis 3D printing. “Equipped with the Siemens Sinumerik ONE CNC controller, the Flexcube delivers precise, high-quality prints essential not only for sectors like architecture and design, which require optimal surface finishes, but also for industries that prioritize accuracy, precision and the overall integrity of the final printed part,” adds Logtenberg.